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Chuck_Franklin
Starting Member

USA
1 Posts
Posted - 07/25/2012 :  01:34:42  Show Profile  Visit Chuck_Franklin's Homepage  Reply with Quote
So, I've been wondering what the limit would be for taking human power and putting it to use in what are workhorse tasks, such as pulling a trailer, or possibly using an HPV as a bulldozer/snowplow.

I've been blogging up some ideas at http://humanpowerd.blogspot.com/, would love to see some discussion on the subject.

My goal would be to design something that could pull at least 1,000 lbs, and have an attachable blade for snow-plowing and bulldozing.

jimincolorado
Starting Member

USA
26 Posts
Posted - 07/27/2012 :  12:34:39  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Years ago, a low cost retail operation in Massachusetts, "Building 19" sold pedal powered lawnmowers. I didn't have a lawn, so never bought one. It wasn't an old fashioned reel type mower, but based on the typical power mower design with the single blade mounted underneath the mower deck, which is where the rider sat. No idea how they worked or if they're still around.

Jim
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Steven Challenge
recumbent enthusiast

Netherlands
141 Posts
Posted - 07/27/2012 :  14:02:27  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
The link doesn't seem to work.
As for using human power for workhorse tasks, I guess if you use the right gear ratio, you can pull 1,000 lbs, problem is the speed. The early steam engine powered tractors didn't have big engines. They used fly wheels to keep the momentum going. I think a combination of pedal power and fly wheel could do the job you want it to do.
Giving this thread a bit of a recumbent flair, I´d say that a recumbent configuration might give you the benefit of putting much more power to the pedals as apposed to sitting upright. With recumbent you can put your back into it, as it where.
A bulldozer can be made with two recumbents next to eachother, if they both pedal the same speed, the vehicle would go forward. If one goes faster than the other, the vehicle would turn.
Many labour intensive machines use hydrolics. You could work the pumps with pedal power, letting the hydrolics work as a slow speed, high power machine.
As said before, I´m not sure how strong it would be or how fast. You have a limited amount of power, you could use it for speed or for strengh, but there is a limit. Trick is to find the right balance of speed and strength.
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Speedbiker
human power expert

USA
2038 Posts
Posted - 07/27/2012 :  14:09:53  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
When you consider a trained cyclist can produce only 1/4 horsepower for very long, don't expect to get much done. Sure, gearing can make pulling heavy loads possible, but only at very low speeds. With 200 watts to apply, or even 400, and human powered blender my be fun at a tailgate party. But an electric one still has more power. I have an electric lawnmower that I guess is about 1500 watts. It has several times the power of a human for an hour long task, but isn't worth a darn if the grass is deep. A 15 hp tractor doesn't push much snow. What will a 1/4 hp do? Good luck with your fun sounding project, but don't expect physics to change.
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tim_turner
recumbent enthusiast

USA
188 Posts
Posted - 07/27/2012 :  17:57:23  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I want a real pedal powered mowing tractor. I'd take slow. I have a reel mower but wheew, it's more work than running 6 miles. Mostly my yard's fault.
Love to use only my legs. Shorten the blade so you can get a ton of speed and torque, or somehow separate the reel from the propulsion so you can make the reel spin really fast and move really slow...

On the human powered work horse note, though... I saw a company a few years back that had human powered fork lifts and other type machines for use in 3rd world countries. Pretty well designed, actually.

T
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Speedbiker
human power expert

USA
2038 Posts
Posted - 07/27/2012 :  19:28:01  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Tim, put a big flywheel on it, and spend the day juicing it up. Then get the jungle mowed before the flywheel runs down.
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tim_turner
recumbent enthusiast

USA
188 Posts
Posted - 07/27/2012 :  20:45:46  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
interesting you mention that...
I bought the Fiskars "Momentum" reel mower. It weighs like 65 lbs and has razor blades on it. Once you get it rolling, it REALLY rewards you for keeping the power on, as in, running full speed.
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Speedbiker
human power expert

USA
2038 Posts
Posted - 07/27/2012 :  23:30:02  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
So much for my fortune... Thanks alot, Turner!
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OpusthePoet
recumbent guru

USA
678 Posts
Posted - 07/28/2012 :  14:30:05  Show Profile  Visit OpusthePoet's Homepage  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by tim_turner

I want a real pedal powered mowing tractor. I'd take slow. I have a reel mower but wheew, it's more work than running 6 miles. Mostly my yard's fault.
Love to use only my legs. Shorten the blade so you can get a ton of speed and torque, or somehow separate the reel from the propulsion so you can make the reel spin really fast and move really slow...

On the human powered work horse note, though... I saw a company a few years back that had human powered fork lifts and other type machines for use in 3rd world countries. Pretty well designed, actually.

T


This has been a project I have been working on for a while as the reel needs to turn about 200 RPM and also has a limited input speed and everything needs to run off a "powerplant" that works best at 70-100 RPM. Also the reel needs to spin up prior to entering the tall grass to be cut. So some kind of clutch needs to be installed separate from the reel drive

One other problem I have been having is mostly unrelated to making the mower, in that the reel only cuts grass that goes up to about the middle of the reel, and we have issues with seed stems that can go from non-existant to a foot tall overnight. I think the best solution to that is a sling blade.

Opus

My gas is up to $0.99 a burrito, $5.99 for premium and I'm only getting 10 miles to the regular burrito. Dang $0.99 burritos are smaller now.
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PUGZCAT
recumbent enthusiast

Canada
245 Posts
Posted - 07/29/2012 :  04:54:48  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
http://tricolour.net/photos/2006/11/18/11-41-49i1.html

For heavy hauling, sociable trike and trailer, cooperative steering, foot activated brakes on the trailer wheels. 20 inch first gear, 73 inch high gear.
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